Drilling apparatus



Oct. 1, 1935. v

DRILLING APPARATUS Filed MaICh 14, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lil,

M. P. HoLMi-:s 2,015,677

M. P. HOLMES 2,015,677

'DRILLING APPARATUS Filed March 14, 1952 3 sheets-sheet 2 kwin. %\k\Oct. 1, 1935.

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DRILLING APPARATUS Filed March 14,y 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /n' VEN Ton/Vo/m/s f? HOL M56. A@ ,4' mw HTTK Patented Oct. 1, 1935 PATENT OFFICEDRILLING APPARATUS Morris P. Holmes, Claremont, N. H., assigner toSullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationMarch 14, 1932, Serial N0. 538,759

16 Claims.

This invention relates to drilling apparatus and more particularly toimprovements in coal drilling apparatus particularly adapted to use inconjunction with coal mining apparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved drillingapparatus. Another object is to provide an improved coal drillingapparatus particularly adapted to be mounted on and used in conjunctionwith a coal mining apparatus. A further object is to provide an improveddrilling apparatus having improved adjustable supporting means for thedrilling tool. A still further object is to provide an improved coaldrilling apparatus of the multiple drilling tool type having improvedindependently ladjustable supporting means for the drilling toolswhereby the latter may be positioned in various locations relative tothe coal face. Still another object is to provide improved means formounting the drilling tools on the coal mining apparatus and improvedmeans for driving the drilling tool from the motor of the miningapparatus. Yet another object is to provide improved means for mountingthe drilling tools on thecoal mining apparatus whereby the drillingtools may be independently adjusted both vertically and horizontallyrelative to the mining apparatus. These and other objects and advantagesof the improved mining apparatus will, however, hereinafter more fullyappear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustrationone form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coal mining apparatus having associatedtherewith the illustrative embodiment of the improved drillingapparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken substantially online 3 3 of Fig. 2, parts being shown in plan tofacilitate illustration;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially online 4 6 of Figs. l and 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on line 5 5 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged central longitudinally extending verticalsectional view taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 1 andillustrating the drilling tool structure;

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 'I 'I ofFig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 8 8 ofFig. 3; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. lshowing the drilling tools in dierent positions. Y

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention the improved drillingapparatus, generally designated I, is shown associated with a coalmining apparatus generally designated 2. The coal mining apparatus isherein of the Wheel supported, track guided type of the same generalconstruction as that disclosed in my patent, Patent No. 1,785,961,patented Dec. 23, 1930, and 10A generally comprises a portable body 3adjustably mounted 'on support Wheels 4 adapted to run along a minetrackway 5. Mounted on the body 3 for rotation about a longitudinal axisis a support E carrying a cutter head I in turn having 15V pivotallymounted thereon a usual cutter element carrying cutter bar 8. Arrangedwithin the cutter head support 6 is a motor 9 having its power shaft I0operatively connected to the mechanisms for actuating the cuttingelements on the cutter 2O bar Il, for rotating the cutter head 1, foradjusting the support carrying body 3 and fordriving the support wheels4 to propel the apparatus as clearly described in the above mentionedpatent.

As the specific structure of the mining apparatus 25 is fully disclosedin Patent No. 1,785,961 above mentioned, and as the improved drillingapparatus may be mounted on mining apparatus of various other types, afurther description of the same is herein deemed unnecessary other than30 to state that the kerf cutter is adjustable to cut horizontal kerfsadjacent the mine floor, horizontal kerfs a substantial distance abovethe mine iloori and vertical kerfs between the mine roof and mine iloor.

The drilling apparatus I generally comprises supporting means generallydesignated I I extending transversely of and mounted centrally on thetop and adjacent the rear end of the body 3 of the mining apparatus asshown in Figs. l and 2 40 this instance, the drill supportingstructures, 50

their adjusting means, the drilling tools and their driving means areidentical in construction and therefore a description of each'of thesame sepa- `rately is not considered necessary. In this in- Y, stance,the supporting means II herein com- 55v prises a central housing I4attached to the top of the body 3 and having mounted thereon andprojecting laterally therefrom at the opposite sides thereof andextending transversely over the top of the body 3 tubular supportingmembers I5, I5. Journaled within bearing brackets i5, i5 at the oppositesides of the body 3 are swivel frames I'I, Il having tubular bearingportions I8 rotatable within the bearing brackets I6 and within whichthe outer extremities of the tubular members i5, I5 are supported asshown in Fig. 4, the inner ends or" these tubular members I5, I5 beingsupported within sleeves I9 in turn supported within the housing ill.Swiveled on the frames il about axes perpendicular to the axes of theswivel frames il are swingable frames 23, 2B, each rotatably supportinga tubular armlike support or boom 2l arranged along the side of themining apparatus. Attached to the outer extremity of each of the booms2l is a swivel bracket 22 on which the drilling tool i3 is swiveledabout an axis perpendicular to the boom axis.

Now referring to the driving connections between the motor 9 of themining apparatus and each drilling tool I3, it will be noted that fixedto the motor shaft l is a spur pinion 25 meshing with a spur gear 25fixed to a longitudinal shaft 2 arranged parallel with and above themotor shaft as shown in Fig. 4. Rotatable with and driven by the shaft 2is a bevel gear 28 meshing with a bevel gear 29 fixed to the lower endof a vertical shaft 30 suitably journaled within the housing I3. Alsofixed to the shaft 33 and driven by the latter is a bevel gear 3lmeshing with bevel gears 32, 32 fixed to the inner ends of alined shafts33, 33 arranged` with their axes coincident with the axes of the swivelframe Il. These shafts are journaled at their inner ends within thehousing I3 and at their outer ends within the swivel frames Il in themanner shown. Journaled on the outer extremity of the shaft 33 is abevel gear 34 connectible to the shaft in driving relation therewith bya sliding clutch 35. The clutch 35 has teeth engageable with the teethof a clutch member 33 keyed to the shaft 33 and connectible to the teeth3l formed on the hub of the bevel gear Sli. The: operating means for theclutch 35 comprises, as shown in Fig. 5, a shipper yoke 38 pivotallymounted on a shaft 39 carried by the swivel frame Il and having asuitable operating handle lill. The gear 3B meshes with a bevel gear 4Irotatably supported on a vertical shaft :l2 arranged with its axiscoincident with the axis of the swingable frame 20 and forming thepivotal mounting for the latter. The shaft l2 is attached at its ends tothe frame 23 and is rotatably mounted within a bearing sleeve 43 carriedby the frame I'I. Meshing with the gear il is a bevel gear 44 Xed to therear end of a transmission shaft 135,. herein extending centrallythrough the tubular supporting arm of boom 2i as shown in Fig. 3. Thisshaft is journaled at its rear end within the swingable frame 23 and atits forward end within the swivel bracket 22, and has fixed thereto atits forward end a bevel gear 4S meshing, as shown in Fig. 3, with alarge bevel ring gear il?. This bevel ring gear is rotatable about theswivel axis of the drilling tool I3 and is, as shown, journaled on aYbearing bracket 38 and a cooperating swivel plate d3. This swivel plateis rigidly secured to the bearing bracket, while the latter is rigidlyattached to the housing 59 of the drilling tool. The bevel gear ilmeshes with a bevel gear 5I iixed to a shaft 52 suitably journaledwithin the bearing bracket 48. Fixed to the shaft 52 and driven therebyare spur gears 53 and 54 (see Fig. 6), which mesh respectively with spurgears 55 and 56 which constitute driving elements for the tool rotatingand feeding mechanisms respec- 5 tively. These driving elements areadapted to effect rotation and feeding of a drilling implement 5l underthe control of multiple disc clutches and 59 and a diiferential screwmechanism 63. As the specic drilling structure is 10 clearly describedin my co-pending application, Serial No. 255,754, led Feb. 20, 1928, nowmatured into Patent No. 1,933,589, granted Nov. '7, 1933, furtherdescription thereof is herein considered to be unnecessary other than tostate 15 that the drilling implement 5l may be fed forwardly at arelatively slow drilling speed or fed in either direction at arelatively high positioning speed while the same is constantly rapidlyrotated. It will thus be seen that, due to the` 20 arrangement ofvarious driving shafts and bevel gearings, it is possible to drive thedrilling tools I3 irrespective of their adjusted positions relative tothe mining apparatus. Each of the drilling tools I3 may be lockedagainst swinging move- 25 ment relative to the bearing bracket 22 bymeans of a clamp or set screw 6I engageable with a peripheral groove 62formed on the swivel plate 49 as shown in Fig. 6.

The mechanisms for swinging the supporting 30 structures l2, l2 aboutthe axes of the swivel frames Il each comprises a lever or arm (seeFigs. 3 and 7) 65 secured as by keys 66 and a clamp 6l to the adjacenttubular member i5, the lever G5 being secured to the member i5 between35 the bearing bracket E3 and the swivel frame 23 as shown in Fig. 4.The outer end of the lever 65 is herein in the form of a yoke 68 andstraddles a guide frame SS suitably attached to the adjacent side of thebody 3 of the mining apparatus 40 and pivotally connected at 'liito asliding trunnion l! respectively mounted within a vertical guideway 'l2formed in the bracket 59. The trunnion il is in the form of a nut andthreadedly engages at i3 a vertical screw 'M suitably journaled with- 45in the guide bracket 69. Connected to the upper end of the screw 'M is areversible ratchet wrench 'I5 of a usual design by means of which thescrew may be manually rotated. It will thus be seen that when the screwlf3 is rotated, the nut il 50 slides either upwardly or downwardlywithin the guideway l2, thereby swinging the lever 35 about its pivotand as a result, the supporting structure for the drilling tool is swungeither upwardly or downwardly about the axis of the 55 swivel frame IIas desired. The supporting structure for the drilling tool may be swunglaterally about the pivot of the swivel frame 23 by simply releasing aclamping nut 'i5 (see Fig. 4) threadedly connected to the lower end ofthe 60 pivot shaft d2, the nut 'i3 when tightened, clamping the parts ofthe swivel frames il', 25 together, thereby frictionally to lock thesupporting structure against lateral swinging movement.

The mechanisms for rolling the supporting 65 structures for the drillingtools about the axes of the supporting arms or booms 2l hereincomprises, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, a worm wheel 33 keyed to the boom2 I, intermediate sleeve bearings 8I, 8I carried by the frame 23 andwithin 70 which the boom is rotatably mounted. Meshing with the wormwheel 83 is a worm 82 fixed to a transverse shaft 83 suitably journaledwithin the frame 23. Attached to one end of the shaft 33 is an operatinglever 84 by means of which the 75 worm gearing may be manually rotated.The worm gearing Sii, 82 is self-locking and maintains automatically thesupporting structure in its different adjusted positions about the boomaxis. The drilling tool may be swung about its swivel mounting on theswivel bracket carried at the outer extremity of the boom simply byreleasing the clamping screw 6I and manually turning the drilling toolabout its swivel axis.

In the operation of the improved drilling apparatus, the coal miningapparatus is run into the entry and, when the coal face is reached, thecutter bar 8 is swung to a position with its tip end at the right handside of the entry. The apparatus vis then propelled along the minetrackway to effect sumping of the cutter bar into the coal face and thecutter bar is thereafter swung from one side of the entry to the otherto ei-lect its transverse cutting operation, thereby cutting atransverse kerf in the coal face in the manner clearly described in myPatent No. 1,735,961 mentioned above. During the swinging movement ofthe cutter bar or after the swinging movement is completed and thecutter bar is partially or entirely withdrawn from the cut, the operatoradjusts the drilling tools i3 into the desired location relative to thecoal face and a plurality of shot or blast holes are drilled in the coalface prior to the completion of the cut within the coal. If it isdesired to drill a series of holes adjacent the ribs of the entry, theoperator loosens the clamping nuts 'l5 and manually swings thesupporting structures i2, E2 laterally from the position shown in Fig. lto the position shown in Fig.

i9, the supporting structures thereafter being clamped in position bytightening the nuts i6. The clamping screws Si are then released and thedrills are swung about their swivel mountings at the other extremitiesof the supporting structures into thel position indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 9. The feed and rotation control clutches 59, of thedrilling tool are then suitably operated to effect feed of the drillingimplement 5l within the coal. If it is desired to drill a series ofblast holes in the coal face adjacent the mine floor when the kerfcutter of the mining apparatus is in its top cutting position asubstantial distance above the mine floor, the booms are rolled withinthe swivel mounting to bring the swivel axes of the drilling toolshorizontal and thereafter the ratchet wrenches l5 are operated to swingthe supporting structures l2, i2 for the drilling tools i3 downwardlyand the drilling tools are then suitably adjusted about their swivel jmountings until they assume the position indicated in dotted lines inFig. 2. When it is desired to drill a series of blast holes in the coalface adjacent the mine roof when the kerf cutter of the mining apparatusis in top cutting position, the booms are swung upwardly to position thedrilling tools adjacent the mine roof and the drills are then operatedin the manner above described. It is accordingly evident that thedrilling tools may be adjusted laterally in any desired position at theopposite sides of the mining apparatus or may be adjusted verticallyinto any desired position between the mine roof and the mine iioor. Whenit is desired to swing the drilling tools about the axes of the booms2i, this may be accomplished simply by turning the handle 8d to actuatethe worm gearing Sil, 82 of the boom rotating mechanism, it beingpossible to adjust the drilling tools through a complete circle aboutthe axes of the booms. After the drilling operation is completed, thesupporting structures for the drilling tools are returned into transportposition as shown in Fig. 1 adjacent the sides of the mining apparatus,and the cutting mechanism of the mining apparatus is again operated andthe apparatus moves rearward- 5 ly to retract the cutter bar from thecoal face in a well known manner. The drilling tools of the miningapparatus operate in this same general manner during the insertion of ashear or vertical cut'in the coal face, it being possible to adjust the10 cutter bar into a shearing position simply by rotating the cutterhead l about its axis. in the manner clearly described in the patentabove referred to. Various other adjustments and uses of the improveddrilling apparatus will be clear- 15v ly apparent to those skilled inthe art.

While there is. in this application specifically described one formwhich this invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthis. form of the same is shown for purposes of illus- 20 tration andthat the invention may be modified and embodied in various other formswithout departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination, a mining machine adapted to effect its cuttingfunction while supported and guided b-y a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a bottom cutting position adjacent themine licor and into a top cutting position a substantial distance abo-Vethe mine iioor, drill supporting boom structures swivelly mounted aboutrectangularly related axes at the opposite sides of the mining machineand swingable laterally outwardly from the sides of the mining machineand vertically downwardly along the sides of the mining machine, anddrilling tools mounted on the outer extremities of said boom structures,said boom structures being adjustable to position the drilling tools todrill holes adjacent the mine iioor when the kerf cutting mechanism isin its top cutting position and to drill holes adjacent the mine roofwhen the kerf cutting mechanism is in its bottom cutting position.

2. In co-mbination, a mining machine adapted to eiect its cuttingfunction while supported and guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a bottom cutting position adjacent themine iioor and a top cutting position a substantial distance above themine oor, a drill supporting structure mounted at the side of the miningmachine and adjustable about a horizontal axis vertically downwardlyalong the side of the mining machine in planes parallel to the latterand laterally relative to the mining machine about an upright axis atthe side of the mining machine, and a drilling tool mounted on the outerextremity of said suppcrting structure, said supporting structure beingadjustable to position the drilling tool to drill holes near the mineoor when the kerf cutting mechanism is in its top cutting position andto drill holes adjacent the mine roof when the kerf cutting mechanism isin its bottom cutting position.

3. In combination, a mining machine adapted to eiiect its cuttingfunction while supported and guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a bottom cutting position adjacent themine floor and a top cutting position a substantial distance abo-ve themine floor; a motor carried by the mining machine for actuating saidkerf cutting mechanism in any of its adjusted positions, a drillsupporting structure mounted at the side of the mining machine foradjustment about a horizontal pivot vertically downwardly along the sideof 'the mining machine in planes parallel to the latter and laterallyrelative to the mining machine and said motor about an upright axis atthe side of the machine, a drilling tool mounted on the outer extremityof said supporting structure, said supporting structure being adjustableto position the drilling tool to drill holes adjacent the mine floorwhen the kerf cutting mechanism is in its top cutting position and todrill holes adjacent the mine roo-f when the kerf cutting mechanism isin its bottom cutting position, and driving connections between saidmotor and said drilling tool operative irrespective of the adjustedposition of said supporting structure relative to the mining machine.

4. In combination, a mining machine adapted to effect its cuttingfunction while supported and guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a top cutting position a substantialdistance above the mine oor, a motor carried by the mining machine foractuating said kerf cutting mechanism, a drill supporting structuremounted at the side of the mining machine for adjustment about ahorizontal axis vertically downwardly along the side of the miningmachine in planes parallel to the latter and laterally relative to themining machine about an upright axis at the side o-f the mining machine,a drilling tool swivelly mounted .on the outer extremity of saidsupporting structure, said supporting structure being adjusted asaforesaid to position the drilling tool to drill holes adjacent the mineiioor when the kerf cutting mechanism is in aforesaid top cuttingposition, and driving connections between said motor and said drillingtool operative irrespective of the adjusted position of said supportingstructure relative to the mining machine and the swiveled position ofsaid drilling tool relative to said supporting structure.

5. In combination, a mining machine adapted to effect its cuttingfunction while supported and guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a top cutting position to cut a nerf asubstantial distance above the mine floor, a motor carried by the miningmachine for actuating said kerf cutting mechanism, drill supportingstructures mounted at the opposite sides of the mining machine foradjustment downwardly along the sides of the mining machine relative tothe mining machine and said motor, drilling tools mounted on the outerextremities of said supporting structures, said supporting structuresbeing adjustable to position said drilling tools to drill holes adjacentthe mine iloor when said kerf cutting mechanism is in its top cuttingposition, and driving connections between said motor and said drillingtool operative irrespective of the adjusted position of said supportingstructures relative to the mining .said motor, drilling tools swivellymounted on the outer extremities of said supporting structures, anddriving connections between said motor and said drilling tools operativeirrespective of the adjusted position of said supporting structuresrelative to said mining machine and the swivelled position of thedrilling tools relative to said supporting structures.

7. In combination, a mining machine adapted to effect its cuttingfunction while supported and guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a bottom cutting position to cut akerf near the mine oor and into a top cutting position to cut a kerf asubstantial distance above the mine floor, a pair of independentlyadjustable elongated supporting structures mounted at their rear ends onthe opposite sides of the mining machine and extending forwardly alongthe sides of the mining machine, a drilling tool supported at the outerextremity of each supporting structure, said supporting structures beingadjustable along the sides of the mining machine to move said tools intodifferent relatively high parallel drilling positions to drill holesnear the mine roof when said kerf cutting mechanism is in its bottomcutting position, into diiferent relatively low parallel drillingpositions to drill holes near the mine floor when said kerf cuttingmechanism is in its top cutting position and into different lateraldrilling positions relative to the mining machine in either of aforesaidcutting positions to enable said tools to drill holes above, below andat either side of the mining machine.

8. In combination, a mining machine adapted to eiiect its cuttingfunction while supported and guided by a mine traclway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a bottom cutting position to cut akerf near the mine floor and into a top cutting position to cut a kerf asubstantial distance above the mine floor, a pair of independentlyadjustable elongated supporting structures mounted at their rear ends onthe opposite sides of the mining machine and extending lforwardly alongthe sides of the mining machine, a drilling tool supported at the outerextremity of each supporting structure, said supporting structures beingadjustable along the sides of the mining machine to move said tools intodifferent relatively high parallel drilling positions to drill holesnear the mine roof when said kerf cutting mechanism is in its bottomcutting position, into different relatively low parallel drillingpositions to drill holes near the mine floor when said kerf cuttingmechanism is in its top cutting position and into different lateraldrilling positions relative to the mining machine when said kerf cuttingmechanism is in either of aforesaid cutting positions to enable saidtools to drill holes above, below and at either side of the miningmachine, a motor on the mining machine, and driving connections betweensaid motor and both of said drilling tools.

9. In combination, a mining machine adapted to effect its cuttingfunction while supported and guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a bottom cutting position to cut akerf near the mine iioor and into a top cutting position to cut .a kerfa substantial distance above the mine oor, a pair of independentlyadjustable elongated supporting structures mounted at their rear ends onthe opposite sides of the mining machine and extending forwardly alongthe sides of the mining machine, a drilling tool supported at the outerextremity of each supporting structure, said supporting structures beingadjustable along the sides of the mining machine to movesaid tools intodifferent relatively high parallel drilling positions to drill holesnear the mine roof when said kerf cutting mechanism is in its bottomcutting position, into different relatively low parallel drillingpositions t drill holes near the mine floor when said kerf cuttingmechanism is in its top cutting position and into different lateraldrilling positions relative to the mining machine when said kerf cuttingmechanism is in either of aforesaid cutting positions to enable saidtools to drill holes above, below and at either side of the miningmachine, a motor on the mining machine, driving connections between saidmotor and both of said drilling tools, and mechanism driven by saidmotor for propelling the mining machine.

10. In combination, a mining machine adapted to effect its cuttingfunction While supported and guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a bottom cutting position to cut akerf near the mine floor and into a top cutting position to cut a kerf asubstantial distance above the mine floor, a pair of independentlyadjustable elongated supporting structures mounted at their rear ends onthe opposite sides of the mining machine for swinging movement along thesides of the mining machine about horizontal transversely extendingalined axes and extending forwardly along the sides of the miningmachine, a drilling tool supported on the outer extremity of eachsupporting structure, said supporting structures being adjustable tomove said tools into different relatively high parallel drillingpositions near the mine roof when said kerf cutting mechanism is in itsbottom cutting position, into different relatively low parallel drillingpositions near the mine oor when said kerf cutting mechanism is in itstop cutting position and into different lateral drilling positionsrelative to the mining machine in either position of the kerf cuttingmechanism to enable said tools to drill holes above, below and at eitherside of the mining machine, and motor operated devices for driving saidtools.

11. In combination, a mining machine adapted to effect its cuttingfunction while supported and guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a bottom cutting position to cut akerf near the mine floor and into a top cutting position to cut a kerf asubstantial distance above the mine floor, a pair of independentlyadjustable elongated supporting structures mounted at their rear ends onthe opposite sides of the mining machine to swing about angularlyrelated axes for swinging movement along the sides of the mining machineabout horizontal transversely extending alined axes and extendingforwardly along the sides of the mining machine, a drilling too-lsupported on the outer extremity of each supporting structure, saidsupporting structures being adjustable to move said tools into differentrelatively high parallel drilling positions near the mine roof when saidkerf cutting mechanism is in its bottom cutting position, into differentrelatively low parallel drilling positions near the mine floor when saidkerf cutting mechanism is in its top cutting position and into differentlateral drilling positions relative to the mining machine in eitherposition of the kerf cutting mechanism to enable said tools to drillholes above, below and at either side of the mining machine, and motoroperated devices for driving said tools.

12. In combination, a mining machine adapted to effect its cuttingfunction while supported and guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a position to cut a vertical kerfbetween the mine roof and mine oor, a pair of independently adjustableelonv5 gated supporting structures mounted at their rear ends on theopposite sides of said mining machine and extending forwardly along thesides of the mining machine, a drilling tool supported on the outerextremity of each supporting structure, said 1,0 supporting structuresbeing adjustable to move said tool into diiferent lateral positionsrelative to the mining machine to drill holes at opposite sides of thevertical kerf when said kerf cutting mechl anism is in said verticalcutting position, a motor carried by the mining machine and relative to'which said supporting structures are adjustable, and driving connectionsbetween said motor and both o-f said tools.

13. In combination, a mining machine adapted Y to eifect its cuttingfunction while supported and. guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a bottom cutting position to cut akerf near the mine floor, into a top cutting position to cut a kerf asubstantial distance above the mine floor and into a position to cut avertical kerf between the mine roof and mine floor, a pair ofindependently adjustable elongated supporting structures mounted attheir rear ends on the opposite sides of the mining machine andextending forwardly along the sides of the mining machine, a drillingtool mounted on the outer extremity of each supporting structure, saidsupporting structures being adjustable to position said tools intodifferent elevated positions along the sides of the mining machine todrill holes near the mine floor when said kerf cutting mechanism is inits top cutting position, to drill holes near the mine roof when saidkerf cutting mechanism is in its bottom cutting position 40 and intodifferent lateral positions relative to the mining machine to enable thetools to drill holes at opposite sides of said vertical kerf when saidkerf cutting mechanism is in vertical cutting position thereby to enablesaid tools to drill holes above, below and at either side of the miningma,-

chine, a motor carried by the mining machine and relative to which saidsupporting structures are adjustable, and driving connections betweensaid motor and both of said tools. 14. In combination, a mining machineadapted to effect its cutting function while supported and guided by amine trackway and having kerf cutting mechanism adjustable into avertical cutting position to cut a vertical kerf between the mine roofand mine floor, a pair of independently adjustable elongated supportingstructures mounted on the opposite sides of the mining machine andextending forwardly along the sides of the mining machine, and adrilling tool supported on the outer extremity of each supportingstructure, said supporting structure being adjustable to move said toolsinto different lateral and vertical positions relative to the miningmachine to drill horizontal holes in the coal face at opposite sides ofsaid vertical kerf when said kerf cutting mechanism is in said verticalcutting position, said supporting structures being adjustable toposition said tools to drill horizontal holes in the coal face near themine floor and near the mine roof. 15. In combination, a mining machineadapted to effect its cutting function while supported and guided by amine trackway and having kerf cutting mechanism adjustable into a bottomcutting position to cut a kerf near the mine floor and into a topcutting position to cut a kerf a substantial distance above the mineoor, a pair of independently adjustable elongated supporting structuresmounted on the opposite sides of the mining machine and extendingforwardly along the sides of the mining machine, and a drilling toolmounted on the outer eX- tremity of each supporting structure, saidsupporting structures being adjustable to position said tools intodifferent elevated positions along the sides of the mining machine todrill holes near the mine floor when said kerf cutting mechanism is inaforesaid top cutting position and to drill holes near the mine roofwhen said kerf cutting mechanism is in aforesaid bottom cuttingposition.

16. In combination, a mining machine adapted to eiect its cuttingfunction While supported and guided by a mine trackway and having kerfcutting mechanism adjustable into a bottom cutting position to out akerf near the mine floor, into a top cutting position to cut a kerf asubstantial distance above the mine floor and into a vertical cuttingposition to cut a Vertical kerf between the mine roof and mine floor, apair of independently adjustable elongated supporting structures mountedon the opposite sides of 1 the mining machine and extending forwardlyalong the sides of the mining machine, and a drilling tool mounted onthe outer extremity of each supporting structure, said supportingstructures being adjustable to position said tools into differentelevated positions along the sides of the mining machine and intodiierent lateral positions relative to the mining machine to enable saidtools to drill holes near the mine floor When said kerf cuttingmechanism is in aforesaid top cutting position, to drill holes near themine roof When said kerf cutting mechanism is in aforesaid bottomcutting position and to drill. holes at either Side of said verticalkerf when said kerf cutting mechanism is in aforesaid Verti- 20 calcutting position.

MORRIS P. HOLMES.

